Policy jobs

The Head of Clinical Governance will lead and enhance the organisation’s commitment to delivering high-quality, safe care for children. This role is pivotal in overseeing clinical governance frameworks, ensuring compliance with regulatory standards, managing clinical risks, and implementing quality improvement initiatives. The postholder will work collaboratively across teams to promote a culture of safety and continuous improvement, aligning with The Children’s Trust’s strategic objectives. Whilst the post directly reports to the Director of Nursing and Quality, the remit of the role spans the whole organisation and works across all clinical directorates.

Interview date: to be confirmed

This role is not open for sponsorship.

Duties and Responsibilities

Clinical Governance

• Develop and maintain an effective clinical governance framework that supports safe and high-quality care.
• Facilitate regular clinical governance meetings to discuss performance, incidents, and quality improvement initiatives.
• Ensure that clinical pathways and practices are aligned with best practice guidelines and evidence-based standards.

Patient Safety

• Lead initiatives to enhance patient safety across all services, promoting a culture of transparency and reporting.
• Implement and maintain the Patient Safety Incident Response Framework (PSIRF), ensuring that learning from incidents is captured and shared.
• Monitor and report on patient safety metrics, identifying areas for improvement and ensuring appropriate action plans are developed.

Clinical Risk Management

• Identify, assess, and manage clinical risks within the organisation, ensuring effective risk mitigation strategies are in place.
• Conduct regular reviews of incident reports and risk assessments to inform organisational learning and development.
• Oversee the management of serious incidents, ensuring thorough investigations and appropriate follow-up actions are completed.

Quality Improvement

• Develop and implement quality improvement initiatives aimed at enhancing patient outcomes and experiences.
• Lead quality impact assessments for new initiatives or changes in practice, evaluating potential risks and benefits and manage the organisational governance in relation to these.
• Collaborate with multidisciplinary teams to promote a culture of continuous quality improvement.

Regulatory Compliance

• Ensure compliance with relevant legislation, standards, and guidelines, including CQC regulations and national safety frameworks.
• Maintain an up-to-date understanding of regulatory changes and ensure organisational policies and practices reflect these updates.
• Coordinate and draft the annual organisation quality account.

Clinical Audit

• Design and implement a comprehensive clinical audit program that evaluates the quality of care and compliance with clinical standards.
• Analyse audit findings to identify trends and areas for improvement, facilitating the development of action plans.

Incident Management

• Oversee the incident management process, ensuring that incidents are reported, investigated, and learned from effectively.
• Develop strategies to communicate learning from incidents across the organisation to promote a culture of safety.

Professional Standards

• Promote adherence to professional standards and best practices among clinical staff, ensuring high levels of accountability and professionalism.
• Monitor compliance with organisational policies and procedures, implementing corrective actions as needed.

Policies and Procedures

• Develop, review, and update clinical policies and procedures to ensure they align with current best practices and regulatory requirements.
• Ensure all staff are trained and knowledgeable about relevant policies and procedures.

Medical Records

Ensure that medical records are maintained accurately and confidentially, supporting patient safety and care continuity.

Medicines Management

• Line manage the lead pharmacist and wider pharmacy team
• Oversee medicines management processes, ensuring compliance with best practices and safe medication administration.

Complaints and Patient Experience

• Manage the complaints process, ensuring that concerns are addressed promptly and appropriately, and lessons learned are disseminated.
• Work to enhance patient experience through feedback mechanisms, ensuring that patient voices are heard and acted upon.

General

• Undertake other or additional duties that are within your skills and abilities, as the organisation may reasonably require from time to time.
• Act as a critical member of the Nursing and Care senior leadership team.

Health and Safety

Adhere to all Health and Safety guidelines, principles and regulations required to perform your role and comply with The Children’s Trust policies and procedures.

Wellbeing and Emotional Resilience

• Maintains a positive approach and outlook when dealing with change and overcoming challenges and problems.
• Recognises own limitations, develops realistic goals, and uses support network resource when or if necessary.
• Treats challenges and problems as a learning experience.
• Remains organised and focused when under pressure.
• Responds appropriately and effectively to all constructive feedback.
• Motivates self and other.

Education & Qualifications:

• Active NMC membership
• Educated to Masters degree level in a relevant area (or relevant experience), and / or with relevant post graduate teaching or leadership qualifications.

Experience:

• Evidence of significant operational leadership experience at AfC band 8a equivalent or above
• Experience working with children with learning disability
• Experience of working within quality and clinical governance dedicated roles
• Experience within training/education/practice-based education and presenting effectively to a variety of audiences
• Experience managing significant budgets
• Experience writing business cases for service proposals
• Experience of effective partnership working with internal and external stakeholders
• Management of change

Skills & Abilities:

• Dynamic, passionate, open, participative, and supportive leadership style
• Strong influencing skills
• Ability to develop and deliver innovative training programmes
• Clinically credible in own area of practice
• Able to deliver a multi-faceted service balancing the capacity of each area to meet service needs and priorities.
• Effective communicator

Knowledge:

Strong understanding of:

• Health care educational framework and of developing training strategies
• Clinical and operational audit data and analysis/presentation methodology
• Multidisciplinary team working
• Care of children with learning disabilities
• Safeguarding
• Quality improvement programmes and methodologies

Personal Qualities:

• Commitment to the vision and values of The Children’s Trust.
• Flexible and ‘can do’ attitude to competing commitments in workload.
• Highly motivated and reliable.
• Ability to cope working in a demanding environment.
• Commitment to maintaining personal wellbeing and the wellbeing of colleagues. 

About Us

The Children’s Trust is the UK’s leading charity for children with acquired brain injury, providing expert rehabilitation, education, therapy, and care at our national specialist centre in Tadworth, and to children and their families across the UK, via our Brain Injury Community Service.

Boasting a beautiful 24-acre site in Surrey, we are located just outside of London, close to the M25 (accessible via Junction 8, A217 to Tadworth) and easily accessible via National Rail, by way of: Clapham Junction, Sutton, and Epsom.

Staff Benefits

The work we do is highly rewarding, and in addition to an attractive salary, we offer a valuable range of benefits on our staff flexible benefits platform, on-site nursery, free eye tests, enhanced Maternity and Paternity Pay, time out days for those experiencing menopause symptoms and time off for gender reassignment.

We also offer additional annual leave days for those with long service, with entitlements ranging from 35 to 41 days (including bank holidays) depending on your length of service.

Other benefits include free on-site parking; a staff shuttle service from Epsom and Sutton train stations to Tadworth Court, subsidised cafeteria, on-site staff accommodation (subject to availability), the ability to retain your NHS pension (where applicable), Teacher’s pension (where applicable) or the opportunity to join an alternative scheme, and the opportunity to develop your career in a supportive and collaborative environment.

Rehabilitation of Offenders

Many roles at The Children’s Trust are exempt from the provisions of Section 4 (2) of the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974, by virtue of the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (as amended in 2013 and 2020) and as such, are subject to an Enhanced DBS check.  Successful applicants will be required to complete an Enhanced Disclosure & Barring Service (DBS) check, which will disclose all unspent convictions and adult cautions and any spent convictions or adult cautions that would not be protected.  The exceptions to this are our retail roles within The Children’s Trust shops, which are subject to Basic DBS checks which will disclose unspent convictions or adult cautions.

Equal Opportunity Employer

To help us achieve our ambition to give children and young people with brain injury and neurodisability the opportunity to live the best life possible, we want to accurately reflect the UK’s diverse population. We want equity, diversity, and inclusion to be at the heart of everything we do, and our people, services, and culture to reflect the diverse needs of all. Through our diversity and inclusion strategy, we have made a commitment to increase the diversity of our charity and create an inclusive culture. We have networks across the organisation working to ensure that these aims are met - including an LGBTQIA2S+ group, Ethnic Diversity Group, and Spark – our broad EDI group. Read more about our EDI work here. We welcome applications from all who share our ambition regardless of background. We will strive to ensure that any reasonable adjustments are made in respect of interview and working arrangements.

Online Searches

In accordance with statutory safeguarding and child protection guidance, online searches will be conducted for shortlisted candidates before interview. The online searches will be conducted by a person who is independent of the interview and selection process and will focus on relevant information returned via searches of the candidate’s name (and variations thereof). Social media searches will be limited to professional platforms such as LinkedIn. Any concerns relating to suitability for work with children and young people will be forwarded to the interview panel, for discussion during the interview.

Purpose of the role

The Legal Director provides strategic leadership on immigration, economic migration, asylum and nationality for ILPA, with a primary focus on legal policy, legislative analysis, member engagement and public influence.

The role is responsible for shaping ILPA’s legal positions, overseeing the quality and coherence of legal analysis across the organisation, and maintaining ILPA’s standing as the leading professional membership body in immigration and asylum law.

Key responsibilities

1. Legal strategy and leadership

In collaboration with the Trustees and Chief Executive, the Legal Director will:

a. Develop and maintain ILPA’s short-, medium- and long-term legal strategy in line with ILPA’s charitable objectives.

b. Identify emerging legal, policy and practice issues affecting immigration, asylum and nationality law.

c. Engage with ILPA members to understand frontline impacts and systemic concerns.

d. Advise the Trustees and Chief Executive on legal policy priorities, organisational positioning and risk.

e. Translate member insight into clear legal and policy positions.

f. Lead ILPA’s legal responses to legislative proposals, consultations and policy initiatives.

g. Ensure ILPA’s legal work remains focused, authoritative and aligned with ILPA’s strategic plan.

2.       Policy, parliamentary and public influence

a. Lead ILPA’s engagement on legal and policy matters with government departments, Parliament and public bodies.

b. Draft and oversee consultation responses, parliamentary briefings and policy submissions.

c. Represent ILPA at meetings with Ministers, officials, parliamentarians and sector partners.

d. Provide expert evidence to parliamentary inquiries and committees.

e. Support the Chief Executive in high-level advocacy and external relations where appropriate.

f. Maintain ILPA’s reputation as a trusted expert voice on immigration and asylum law.

3.       Member support and legal expertise

a. Maintain expert-level knowledge of UK and international immigration, asylum and nationality law.

b. Monitor and analyse developments in legislation, case law and policy.

c. Oversee the accuracy and quality of legal information provided to members.

d. Support ILPA’s thematic and regional working groups, including attendance and follow-up actions where appropriate.

e. Build and maintain relationships with NGOs, migrant organisations and advice-sector partners.

f. Strengthen member engagement through high-quality legal leadership and insight.

4.       Relationship with litigation and advice functions

a. Work collaboratively with the Director of Strategic Litigation and Advice to ensure consistency between ILPA’s policy positions and litigation strategy.

b. Provide legal policy insight to inform litigation priorities where appropriate.

5. Management and organisational leadership

a. Line manage the Senior Legal Officer and support the Chief Executive’s HR management function for the Senior Legal Officer

b. Provide strategic direction and professional support to the legal function without direct responsibility for operational casework or project delivery.

c. Contribute as a senior member of ILPA’s management team.

d. Support organisational planning, risk management and reporting.

e. Act as a senior ambassador for ILPA internally and externally.

6. Cross-organisational working

a. Work with the Training Manager to identify emerging legal training needs and priority topics for members.

b. Contribute to the development of training programmes, events and conferences by advising on content and legal accuracy.

c. Support identification of suitable speakers and trainers from within ILPA’s membership.

d.  Work with the Content and Digital Services Manager to ensure legal content is accurate, accessible and up to date across ILPA’s digital platforms.

e. Contribute legal expertise to funding bids and project reporting where required.

f. Support organisational strategy development and review.

g. Undertake other reasonable duties consistent with the seniority of the role.

Accountability and relationships

Reports to: Chief Executive

Direct reports: Senior Legal Officer

Key internal relationships:

· Director of Strategic Litigation and Advice

· Training Manager

· Content and Digital Services Manager

· Trustees and Chief Executive

Person specification

Essential

· Substantial expertise in immigration, asylum and nationality law

· Strong understanding of public law and human rights frameworks

· Proven experience of legal policy development and advocacy

· Excellent analytical and drafting skills

· Experience managing senior legal staff

· Authority and credibility with Parliament, government and the profession

Desirable

· Experience within a membership organisation or charity

· Understanding of litigation governance structures

· Experience contributing to digital legal resources

· Familiarity with training design or professional education

Why work at ILPA

• National profile and respected reputation

• High-impact policy and legal work

• Flexible and supportive working culture

• Collaborative, expert-led organisation

We are looking to recruit an experienced, innovative legal manager for our international Environment and Sustainable Development Programme. The ideal candidate will be a qualified lawyer with deep enthusiasm and in-depth knowledge of how our partners could use the law to achieve environmental justice. A more detailed explanation of our organisational and programme strategy is set out in our 2024-2026 Strategy.

Working as part of a small but dynamic team, you will have the opportunity to learn at close hand what it means to work for an international NGO focusing on how the law can be used to fight corruption and achieve environmental and economic justice. You will develop projects with a range of partners, including international agencies, NGOs, CSOs and governments. You will collaborate with a range of volunteer lawyers (via law firms and barristers chambers) who are leading experts in their field. You will also help nurture, build and maintain relationships with our funders. The role will involve outreach to new partners, programme management, supporting the drafting of fundraising applications and donor reports, tracking impact, as well as evaluating and learning from projects.

Key Responsibilities:

1. Implement the strategic vision for ILP’s Environment and Sustainable Development (ESD) programme, in conjunction with the ESD Programme Director, Legal Fellows, Executive Director, partners, staff and Board;

2. Develop an understanding of the most effective environmental policy tools and legal interventions to deliver the programme’s objectives, through engagement with volunteer lawyers, ILP partners, ILP’s ESD Advisory Committee, staff, Board and others;

3. Support the ESD Programme Director to build and maintain ILP’s Environment and Sustainable Development (ESD) programme. This includes:

   • liaising with partners to identify legal/policy needs and offer potential legal and/or policy reform solutions, including through conducting legal analysis;

     identifying and engaging in regular outreach with potential new partners to build the project pipeline;

   • identifying, building and maintaining strong relationships with existing and new highly experienced volunteer lawyers;

   • mapping and developing relationships with regional and international development entities and other technical assistance providers to identify potential partners, needs and focus countries;

   • representing the programme in external fora and events.

4. Support the Programme Director in ensuring effective project delivery and evaluation of impact including:

   • managing and coordinating project implementation through the full project cycle;

   • delivering financial management for assignments including accurate budgeting, forecasting, accounting and reporting;

   • Supporting the development and maintenance of strong programme management and knowledge management systems and processes, including regular updating of ILP’s online internal database (GRID).

5. Support the Programme Director’s fundraising efforts to finance both the programme and organisational overheads, including working closely with the Programme Director to identify opportunities for potential funding with partners, liaise with and nurture donors, design funding applications and create relevant budgets;

6. Deepen ILP’s knowledge and understanding of the situation in developing economies, including engaging in relevant research alongside ILP partners (pro bono lawyers, NGOs, CSOs and others) and sharing findings via written reports and output;

7. Share in the necessary operational and administrative activities of the organisation and contribute to website and social media communications.

For further information on the candidate profile for this role, our full job description is available to view and download below. 

Join an amazing charity that makes a difference for the 110,000 adults and children in the UK with a muscle-wasting condition. This is a role where you can really make a difference.​

We are committed to building a diverse and inclusive organisation that reflects the communities we serve. We actively encourage applications from individuals of all backgrounds, particularly those from underrepresented groups including people from ethnic minority backgrounds, LGBTQ+ individuals, and those with lived experience of conditions we represent. We believe that diversity strengthens our work and helps us better support our beneficiaries.

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As part of our safer recruitment and safeguarding responsibilities, this role requires a DBS check and professional/character references. We are committed to inclusion and will consider each application fairly.

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About you:

This is a terrific opportunity to play a fundamental role as People and Culture Officer at Muscular Dystrophy UK’s and help shape an exceptional employee experience.

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Are you passionate about creating a workplace where people can thrive? We're looking for a proactive and confident People professional to play a key role in supporting our charity and ensuring we remain a great place to work.

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• Be the go‑to People expert: You’ll act as the first point of contact for all People queries, offering practical, solutions‑focused advice across the organisation.

• Own the full employee lifecycle: From recruitment and onboarding to drafting contracts and supporting exits, you'll ensure every stage is seamless and supportive.

• Champion compliance & best practice: Provide specialist guidance to departments to ensure we meet all HR, policy and regulatory requirements.

• Keep our people data strong: Support monthly People reports and metrics, including turnover, tenure, sickness, and performance trends.

• Drive operational excellence: Prepare and submit monthly payroll changes accurately and on time.

• Bring our People communications to life: Contribute to weekly internal comms, including staff newsletters, HR updates, and policy changes.

• Promote wellbeing and engagement: Help maintain accurate records, support wellbeing initiatives, and contribute to a positive and inclusive culture.

• Partner for impact: Work closely with the Head of People & Culture and hiring managers to deliver a consistent, high‑quality employee experience from start to finish.

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Your Cover Letter Guidance

When submitting your application, please ensure your cover letter clearly demonstrates your experience in the following areas:

• End‑to‑end recruitment, including supporting hiring managers and delivering an excellent candidate experience

• Ability to work independently in a fast‑paced environment, using good judgement and initiative

• Confidence using a computerised HR system, including payroll functionality

• Providing clear, sensitive, and confidential HR advice

• Supporting managers with employee relations cases (absence, performance, disciplinary and grievance) and ensuring adherence to policy

Your cover letter should demonstrate how your background aligns with these criteria, using specific examples where possible.

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About us:

Muscular Dystrophy UK is a charity that connects a community of more than 110,000 people living with one of over 60 muscle wasting conditions, and all the people around them. So everyone can get the healthcare, support and treatments needed to feel good, mentally and physically. 

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This is an exciting time to join Muscular Dystrophy UK. We recently launched our new 10 year strategy to transform the lives of people living with muscle wasting conditions. Our vision is clear, a world without limits for people with muscle wasting conditions, and we won’t stop until we achieve it.

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Values and behaviours:

• A positive attitude and approach that reflect the charity’s values.

• Seek opportunities to contribute to the development of the charity.

• A commitment to and an understanding of disability issues, equality, diversity and inclusion.

• Always demonstrate role model behaviour.
  
   

Benefits:

We appreciate the range of skills and experience our staff have to offer. In return for your enthusiasm and commitment we commit to actively developing and supporting you. We believe in supporting our people both professionally and personally.

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Alongside a competitive salary, we offer a comprehensive benefits package designed to promote wellbeing, work–life balance, and career development. Our offerrange of benefits includes great pension contributions, life insurance, cycle scheme, health cash plan, employee assistance programme, instant retail and events discounts, and much more...

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Location: We operate a hybrid model (home and office, London SE1). 

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Closing date: Sunday,15th February 2026

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NB Interviews likely to be held on Thursday, 26th February & Friday, 27th February 2026

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Please download the job description to see full role responsibilities

Prospectus is delighted to be partnering with our client in their recruitment of a new Policy and Comms Officer, on a full-time, permanent basis. This is an exciting new role for the organisation which offers flexibility, with the option to either be office-based, hybrid, or remote (condensed working will also be considered).

Lupus is a chronic autoimmune disease which is uncommon, complex and poorly understood. It affects the immune system and can cause lasting damage to the kidneys, skin, heart, lungs and/or brain. Our client is the only national charity supporting people living with lupus and those that care for them. They hold an ambition for a world where people with lupus can live full and active lives and work hard to empower people by providing information about lupus and offering support so their voices are heard and their condition diagnosed and managed effectively. With 35 years of service, the charity is now embarking on an ambitious new strategy, aiming to broaden and deepen its reach across the lupus community.  

Reporting up to the Health Information, Policy and Research Manager, your role will involve the scoping and mapping of the charity's current policy work, the policy landscape and potential opportunities, working collaboratively internally to develop a prioritised policy plan. You will ensure that the charity's policy work, and key updates in the policy landscape are effectively communicated with the lupus community, including producing and disseminating articles, press releases, social media posts, and other material as appropriate. You will provide regular organisation-wide briefings to ensure that colleagues are aware of key policy positions, arguments and evidence, and will develop and maintain relationships with a wide range of stakeholders, including people with lived experience of lupus, other patient and advocacy organisations, clinicians and researchers, and government bodies.

To apply for this role, you will be an attentive, proactive individual, experienced in communicating complex information in an easy to understand, accessible, and engaging manner, in a range of different formats. You will have demonstrable experience of undertaking policy research, having written reports and briefs and evaluated evidence of their impact, and will have a strong understanding of local, regional, and national government, and the healthcare system in the UK. You will have excellent interpersonal skills, and an ability to influence and persuade a wide range of stakeholders.

Please apply by submitting your CV in Word format (cover letters are not required at this stage). Successful candidates will be contacted and invited to provide a supporting statement.

Interviews to take place week commencing Monday 23rd Feb.

As a specialist recruitment practice, we are committed to building inclusive and diverse organisations and welcome applications from all sections of the community. We are invested in supporting you through your application journey.

Please note, occasional evening and weekend working and travel may be required, including travel to the four nations of the UK.

The Multiple System Atrophy Trust (MSA Trust) is the UK and Eire’s leading national charity offering vital support to people affected by MSA – a terminal neurodegenerative disease. 

About the Role

To lead on the Trust’s Policy and Communications work. To ensure our strategy and work in this area is led by the specific needs of people affected by MSA. This will require effective contact between the Trust and people affected by MSA, a range of health and care professionals; in order to develop their engagement in a professional and supportive way. To be an ambassador for change in wider society, working in the best interests of people affected by MSA. To develop and ensure effective external communications and dialogue with people affected by MSA and facilitate positive collaboration with other relevant agencies and policymakers. To co-ordinate marketing and clear messaging to key stakeholders.

To promote the development of this element of work within the MSA Trust, which may include future line management responsibility as the work develops.

Key Responsibilities:

• Work with the CEO, internal teams, Services Committee, and other colleagues to set and deliver an integrated Policy and External Communications strategy for the MSA Trust. 
• Be responsible for the development and delivery of an operational plan with targets and be accountable for the budget in this area.
• Lead on policy and campaigning work, ensuring priorities reflect the views of people with MSA.
• Be responsible for the Trust’s external communications and messaging.  
• Be responsible for ensuring that the development and output of our communications and policy work are inclusive and reflect the diversity of our MSA community.
• Play a key role in the development and effectiveness of national and local voluntary networks that support shared ambitions for the neurology sector.
• Play a key role in the production of MSA News – the Trust’s flagship publication for members.
• Work closely with colleagues to ensure our services are compliant with relevant policies, procedures and relevant legislative frameworks.
• Create positive relationships with MSA Trust colleagues, Trustees, and external networks to share knowledge, insight and evidence.

General Responsibilities

• Undertake any other duties commensurate with the level of the role.
• Embrace diversity and share in the MSA Trust’s commitment to equality of opportunity and to eliminating discrimination.
• Work closely with the Fundraising Team to build fundable propositions and build relationships with supporters.
• Use the charity’s resources efficiently and effectively to ensure that our financial resources are demonstrably used for the benefit of our service users.
• Ensure that information is obtained, used and stored in accordance with our Data Protection and Confidentiality policies.
• Maintain compliance and adherence with all processes to ensure good governance.
• Develop a deep understanding of the issues facing people affected by MSA across the UK and Ireland, including the Health, Social Care and Welfare landscape.

We will not accept applications without a covering statement. Please ensure in your covering letter you mention any dates you might not be available for interview.

We welcome applications from all backgrounds and are committed to equality, diversity, and inclusion.

If you’re ready to roll up your sleeves, learn by doing and kick-start your career in policy and public affairs; we’d love to hear from you.

This is a 9-month paid internship opportunity. This role is largely home-based, with regular travel to Westminster and occasional UK travel. NASS represents and supports special schools across England and Wales. With 2025 set to be a pivotal year for SEND reform and the anticipated 2026 Schools White Paper, we are seeking a Policy and Research Intern to provide additional capacity to our small, ambitious team. This is a newly created role, offering a real opportunity to shape our work and help ensure NASS remains a strong voice for special schools. This is a hands-on role offering excellent experience in policy, research and public affairs. You will support media and policy monitoring, parliamentary tracking, research, briefings, communications and events.

The position is offered on a full time basis (36.25 hours per week). This role will be home-based but will require travel to Edinburgh and/or other parts of Scotland and the UK for in-person meetings as required.

Interviews will be held w/c 16th February in person at our Edinburgh offices.

Are you passionate about making a real difference in children's lives through impactful policy and public affairs engagement in Scotland and across the UK? Do you want to influence key decisions on child poverty and social policy while working with Scottish Government, MSPs, and UK-wide stakeholders? If so, we want to hear from you. 

Barnardo's is looking for a Policy & Public Affairs Officer (Scotland) to help shape our influencing in Scotland and strengthen our UK-wide work on child poverty. This is a fantastic opportunity for someone eager to build on their existing knowledge and experience with policy makers in Scotland while playing a pivotal role in creating positive, lasting change for children, young people, and families. 

In this role, you'll work closely with our Senior Policy and Public Affairs Lead (Scotland) to implement our influencing plan. You'll help raise Barnardo's Scotland's profile among key stakeholders and policy influencers. You'll be involved in: 

• Monitoring key developments within the Scottish policy landscape 

• Managing relationships and liaising with stakeholders at all levels 

• Conducting research and producing reports to support our policy objectives 

• Supporting reactive policy work to respond to emerging issues 

• Organising events to showcase Barnardo's vital work and engage decision-makers 

Your efforts will ensure that the voices of children, young people, families, and our services are central to our influencing activities in Scotland.

When completing your application please refer to your skills knowledge and experience in relation to the Person Specification and Job Description. This should be done with an understanding of the context of the service described.

Please note due to the high volume of applications for some posts, this advert might close before the displayed closing date. We recommend that you apply for this role as soon as possible.

Job Title: Policy and Public Affairs Officer (Wales)

Directorate: Strategy and Knowledge

Team/Department:  Policy and Public Affairs

Salary range: £ 28,337 - £33,301 (recruitment is typically at the bottom of the range)

Location: Cardiff (hybrid working, with at least one day per week in the Cardiff office). The post holder maybe expected to travel to locations across the UK to support business needs, as and when required.

Working hours: 35 hours per week

Context and Background

The NSPCC’s vision is that together, we can stop child abuse and neglect. Through the collective power of our staff, volunteers, supporters, partners, and over 100 years of experience we will move closer to achieving that vision.

We launched our ten-year strategy in 2021, which is centred around three impact goals. This is the difference we want to make by 2031:

1.  Everyone plays their part to prevent child abuse: we’ll work together to make it easier for everyone to play their part and create a social safety net that prevents child abuse and neglect.
2. Every child is safe online: together, we’ll transform the online world, so it’s safe for every child to go online.
3. Children feel safe, listened to and supported: more children will be able to speak out, so they feel safe, listened to and understood – and abuse doesn’t shape their future.

The Policy and Public Affairs team works to ensure that national laws, policies and guidance across the UK are fit-for-purpose in preventing cruelty to children. We work across the four nations of the UK. We develop and maintain the NSPCC’s positions on key public policy issues, drawing on research and policy analysis and feed in organisational insight and expertise gained through our services. We use our evidence-based positions to shape and influence national policy discussions on issues affecting child protection and manage the NSPCC’s political relations and work with governments, legislatures and stakeholders across the UK.

We focus on five key policy priorities: the child protection system and children’s social care; early years and health; child sexual abuse; online safety; and young victims and witnesses.

Job purpose

We are recruiting a Policy and Public Affairs Officer to contribute to the work of the Wales Policy and Public Affairs team in delivering real change and reform in the best interests of children.

The Policy and Public Affairs Officer will be responsible for undertaking policy work to achieve the NSPCC’s strategic goals, using their skills and experience to strengthen the NSPCC’s impact on public policy, and in doing so make a significant contribution to keeping children safe. The post holder will support the delivery of a range of policy-focused projects both within the Wales policy team, and across the wider UK policy team:

• Within the Wales team, the Officer will research and help build persuasive, evidence-based policy positions, support the NSPCC’s influencing activity as appropriate, and write consultations and impactful briefings. They will play a key role in supporting policy analysis, policy research and public affairs activity with a range of external stakeholders, including relevant elected members and government officials. The ability to communicate in Welsh is desirable for this role.
• Across the wider UK team, the Officer will also support policy colleagues working on one or more of our policy priority areas (which are focussed on: child protection; child sexual abuse; early years; online safety; young victims and witnesses). The post holder will help to coordinate collaboration across the teams, facilitate information-sharing and support the delivery of relevant cross-nation projects

Key relationships - Internal

• Reports to the Policy and Public Affairs Manager Wales)
• Colleagues in the wider Policy and Public Affairs and Campaigns teams across the UK
• Colleagues in the Strategy and Knowledge directorate
• Colleagues in the Media team
• Colleagues in the Services directorate (to ensure policy development is informed by experiences and learning from our frontline professionals/ volunteers)
• Colleagues working with children and young people (to ensure the experiences and voices of young people are embedded in policy and influencing work)

Key relationships - External

• Key civil servants and policy advisers in Welsh Government
• Elected representatives in the Senedd and local government structures
• Colleagues in relevant voluntary and statutory agencies
• Practitioner bodies
• Key academics, researchers and research networks

Main duties and responsibilities

• Develop and maintain expertise on key policy areas, enabling the NSPCC to predict and react to changes in the external environment.
• Scope, develop and refine key policies on priority issues, in line with the NSPCC’s strategic goals and outcomes.
• Support the smooth running of one of more NSPCC policy workstreams, supporting effective four-nations collaboration
• Prepare high-quality briefings, summaries and papers for internal and external audiences.
• Draft responses to government consultations and other public policy initiatives.
• Use project management skills to plan effectively the delivery of policy development activity and aligned public affairs activities.
• Undertake policy research and analysis, using a wide range of primary and secondary sources of evidence (such as policy documents, academic literature, survey data and qualitative data from interviews and focus groups), to develop high impact, credible policy positions
• Be a point of contact for internal and external requests for information and advice on NSPCC’s positions public positions
• Coordinate the delivery of NSPCC policy events and conferences (working with colleagues from across the organisation) and represent the NSPCC at external events.

Responsibilities for all Staff within the Strategy and Knowledge Directorate

There is a set of responsibilities for all staff within each directorate.

• A commitment to safeguard and promote the welfare of children and young people
• To carry out the responsibilities of the post in a manner consistent with promoting equality and diversity, and which demonstrates respect for children’s rights
• To participate actively in regular department and team meetings, contributing to strategy, discussions and decisions
• To maintain an awareness of own and other’s health and safety and comply with the NSPCC’s Health and Safety policy and procedures
• A willingness to take a flexible approach to work.

Person specification

1.  A good understanding of public policy relating to the NSPCC’s work, child protection issues and knowledge of the wider legal and political context in Wales.
2. Demonstrable public affairs skills, with good knowledge of policymaking and parliamentary processes in Wales and experience of successfully influencing government or other policymakers.
3. Proven policy development and policy research skills, with experience of collecting and analysing data, forming robust, evidence-based policy positions, and clearly presenting findings to make a clear and compelling case for policy and legislative change. 
4. Strong verbal and written communication skills including the ability to write clearly, concisely, and persuasively in a variety of formats for a variety of audiences and deal effectively, efficiently and appropriately with internal and external stakeholders.
5. Good organisational and project management skills, with demonstrable experience of delivering on competing priorities within a time-pressured environment.
6. Confidence in working as part of a team, with experience of working collaboratively with colleagues to help ensure the successful delivery of projects.
7. Experience of organising and successfully delivering external influencing events
8. Support for the NSPCC’s mission and values

Safer Recruitment

As an organisation, we are committed to creating and fostering a culture that promotes safeguarding and the welfare of all children and adults at risk.

Our safer recruitment practices support this by ensuring that there is a consistent and thorough process of obtaining, collating, analysing and evaluating information from and about candidates to ensure that all persons appointed are suitable to work with our children and adults.

The recruitment and selection of our people will be conducted in a professional, timely and responsive manner and in compliance with current employment legislation, and relevant safeguarding legislation and statutory guidance.

Our principles:

• Always seek to recruit the best candidate for the role based on merit including their skills, experience, motivation and competencies. Our robust recruitment and selection process should ensure the identification of the person best suited to the role and the organisation.
• Committed to diversity and equality of opportunity and will interview all applicants (internal and external) who self-declare at application as having a disability and who meet the minimum requirements in the person specification of the vacancy they are applying for.
• We will make reasonable adjustments at all stages of the recruitment process in order to enable successful candidates who declare disabilities to start working or volunteering their time with us.
• Any current member of staff or volunteer who wishes to apply for vacancies and is suitably qualified will be considered and addressed fairly and objectively based on their merit.
• As an organisation committed to safeguarding, we will ensure all under 18’s joining the organisation will have ongoing risk assessments to ensure their role and activities are safe and appropriate.
• All documentation relating to candidates will be treated confidentially in accordance with the GDPR legislation.

About African Rainbow Family

African Rainbow Family (ARF) is a UK-based, lived-experience-led grassroots organisation working with and for LGBTIQ+ refugees and people seeking asylum of African heritage and the Global Majority.

ARF was founded in 2014 in response to the criminalisation and persecution of LGBTIQ+ people across parts of Africa and the Commonwealth. The organisation provides advocacy, peer support, advice, training and counselling, while campaigning locally, nationally and internationally to challenge injustice and promote equality and human rights.

ARF operates from its head office in Manchester and has centres in Leeds, Birmingham, London and Swansea.

About the Role

The Operations Manager role is a new and senior position within African Rainbow Family and will play a key role in supporting the organisation’s strategic and operational development.

The postholder will be responsible for overseeing the day-to-day running of the organisation, managing staff and volunteers, ensuring effective service delivery and leading on income generation and funding applications.

The role works closely with the Chief Executive Officer, Trustees, staff, volunteers and external stakeholders to ensure ARF operates effectively, sustainably and in line with its values and objectives.

Key Responsibilities

The postholder will be responsible for:

• Managing the day-to-day operations of African Rainbow Family, ensuring efficient and effective organisational delivery

• Line managing staff and volunteers, including recruitment, induction, supervision and performance management

• Overseeing service delivery across all ARF centres to ensure consistency, quality and compliance with funder requirements

• Managing organisational budgets and monitoring expenditure against agreed targets

• Leading on income generation, including researching funding opportunities and writing grant and funding applications

• Developing, reviewing and implementing organisational policies, procedures and systems

• Ensuring compliance with governance, safeguarding, health and safety and regulatory requirements

• Building and maintaining relationships with funders, partners, commissioners and key stakeholders

• Supporting strategic planning and reporting to the CEO and Board of Trustees

Person Specification

Essential

• Minimum of two years’ experience in an operations, project or organisational management role

• Proven experience of managing staff and volunteers

• Experience of managing budgets and financial reporting

• Demonstrable experience of researching and writing successful grant or funding applications

• Knowledge of charity governance, compliance and operational processes

• Strong organisational, communication and leadership skills

• Ability to work independently and manage competing priorities

Desirable

• Experience working within the charity or voluntary sector

• Experience working with LGBTIQ+ refugees or people seeking asylum

• Knowledge of asylum, immigration or human rights policy

• Experience using databases or CRM systems (e.g. Salesforce)

• Experience in advocacy, campaigning or media work

Benefits

• 28 days annual leave including Bank Holidays

• NEST pension scheme

• Flexible working arrangements

• Birthday leave and two wellbeing (duvet) days per year

• Cost-of-living support

• Paid sick leave after six months’ service

• Training, development and progression opportunities

• Salary review and employee reward scheme

• Free on-site parking

• Accredited Living Wage Employer

Equality, Diversity and Safeguarding

African Rainbow Family is committed to equality, diversity and inclusion and welcomes applications from people with lived experience of the asylum system, LGBTIQ+ people and individuals from Black and Global Majority backgrounds.

This role is subject to a Genuine Occupational Requirement and is therefore open only to applicants who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender or intersex.

The post is subject to an enhanced DBS check. ARF is committed to safeguarding and to providing reasonable adjustments throughout the recruitment process.

War on Want is recruiting for a permanent Department Director to lead our campaigning, policy and international partnerships and programmes work. This role will suit a dynamic self-motivated and experienced Department Director. You will need significant senior management team experience, as well as experience of managing thematic experts and campaigners and leading the delivery of impactful and transformative campaigns.

As a member of War on Want’s senior management team, you will be responsible for ensuring and overseeing the effective planning, implementing and monitoring of War on Want’s campaigning, policy and international partnerships and programmes work. Working with the Executive Director and Senior Management Team colleagues you will also contribute to the overall management of the organisation.

This is a unique and highly rewarding position for a creative and inspirational individual to join the leadership of an impactful charity working both in the UK and globally on some of the most challenging social justice issues. The role oversees our programmes and campaigns on climate justice, economic justice, and on militarism and security issues, including our priority work on Palestine. This is a great opportunity to join a dynamic staff group dedicated to making a genuine difference in the fight for global justice. 

War on Want staff can work from War on Want’s head office, 44-48 Shepherdess Walk, London N1 7JP and from home. Some travel within the UK and overseas may be required.

For more information on the role and to apply, please visit our website.

Deadline for applications: 23.59 on Sunday 8 February 2026.

War on Want is a registered charity no 208724. We actively encourage applicants from ethnic minorities and aim to be an equal opportunities employer.

The Mental Health Foundation is recruiting for a Head of Campaigns & Media to lead the development of a new team within our Policy & Influencing Directorate.

Deadline: 9am on Monday 2nd February
Location: London OR Glasgow
Salary: Starting salary £52,166 rising to £60,861, plus London weighting of £4,000 where applicable
Hours: Full-time (32 hours per week) [part-time considered]
Contract type: This is a permanent role

This exciting role has been created to develop a new campaigns function at the Mental Health Foundation, incorporating our existing media team and working closely with policy, research and lived experience colleagues across the UK, with the aim of driving support for policy change.

What does the role involve?

• Developing a campaigns strategy for MHF and deliver its execution.
• Manage the campaigns and media team, commission engaging content, oversee campaign budgets, and collaborate with stakeholders to create a better policy environment for good mental health.
• Contribute to the leadership of the Mental Health Foundation and its Policy and Influencing Directorate.

What skills, knowledge and experience are we looking for?​

• Experience of developing and implementing campaign strategies to support policy change in the charity sector.
• Comprehensive understanding of communication disciplines (e.g. digital marketing, media relations, content creation) and how they integrate to achieve campaign objectives.
• Understanding of mental health policy, prevention and public health.

Safeguarding is Everyone’s business – Mental Health Foundation is committed to safeguarding and promoting the wellbeing of all its beneficiaries, those who surround them, its staff, volunteers, and anyone else who comes into contact with its services and expects all trustees, staff, and volunteers to share this commitment. The successful applicant will be subject to appropriate vetting procedures (proof of eligibility to work in the UK, proof of residency and satisfactory employment screening, including a Disclosure check and two most recent references) along with 3-year renewals of Disclosure checks. We are unable to provide sponsorship for this post, you must be able to demonstrate your eligibility to work in the UK.

How to apply

If you think your skills match and you’d like to be part of a dynamic and growing organisation, please complete and submit your application via our website. Please ensure you attach an up-to-date CV and statement of suitability answering all points of the person specification. Applications will close at 9am on Monday 2nd February and we are unable to accept late applications. Interviews are planned for Monday 9th & Wednesday 11th February.

We reserve the right to close this vacancy early if we have enough suitable applications.

We believe our people should represent the communities, organisations and individuals we work with. Diversity and inclusion is a strategic priority for us as an employer and mental health charity, and we are proud to be signatories of the Business in the Community Race at Work Charter and the Disability Confident Committed Scheme. Applications from under-represented sections of the community are actively encouraged.

If you have a disability, require any additional support or have any questions regarding the role, please contact us. We make reasonable adjustments throughout the recruitment process and during employment. Disabled candidates who meet all the essential person specification criteria will be offered an interview. Therefore, please do ensure you tick the relevant box on the application form and clearly indicate in your application/covering letter if you consider yourself to meet the requirements of the Equality Act 2010 / Disability Discrimination Act 1995.

We are currently operating mostly digital recruitment (including interviews via video conferencing). We have moved to a hybrid working model of a minimum of 2 days per week in the office and the rest working from home.

We look forward to hearing from you!

Charity People is delighted to be partnering with AdviceUK to recruit for an interim Head of Policy, Programmes and Media. Joining the organisation as a maternity leave cover contract, this is a role where you will have the opportunity to achieve significant impact across some key priority areas.

Since 1979, Advice UK has been supporting advice organisations by helping them to be efficient, competent and effective, and by campaigning for a policy environment that supports advice agencies and people needing advice. A small but mighty - and growing! - charity that supports its members to provide advice to upwards of 2.5 million people each year. The organisation is working towards a world in which every individual, regardless of means, is able to access the advice they need in order to exercise their rights and address any legal and social welfare challenges they may face.

Contract: Interim maternity cover role, nine to 12 month contract

Salary: £70,000 to £75,000 per annum

Location: Hybrid role which will be predominantly home-based with travel to London for either office days or meetings expected around one day per week

Hours: Full-time, 35 hours per week or part time, 28 hours per week considered with flexible working options fully supported

Closing date for applications: 9am Friday 30th January
Interviews: Interviews will be held in person at the charity offices in London on the 11th and 12th of February

The Head of Policy, Programmes and Media position is a senior position within the organisation. Part of the SLT and reporting to the CEO the postholder will take the lead on all policy and public affairs initiatives to secure policy change and funding to benefit people seeking advice and the communities served by the organisation's members.

Core responsibilities within the role will include:

• Develop and oversee the implementation of effective strategies for policy and funder influence that enable Advice UK to achieve its purpose
• Identify new audiences and develop innovative approaches to sustain and grow Advice UK's stakeholder and funder network and achieve its strategic priorities
• Be accountable for Advice UK's policy, public affairs and funded activities, reporting to the Chief Executive and Advice UK Board
• Lead the development and coordination of clear, concise and authoritative policy positions on key issues
• Identify actionable and achievable policy influencing goals to achieve change on the highest priority issues and develop strategic influencing plans to achieve these goals
• Alongside the Chief Executive, be Advice UK spokesperson and representative at external events including policy roundtables, steering groups, conferences, meetings and other events
• Oversee and deliver a proactive public affairs strategy to achieve policy change on the issues of priority concern to members
• Identify and build effective relationships with key contacts across UK and devolved governments and parliaments, including Ministers, MPs, civil servants and local and regional decision makers
• Lead a stakeholder engagement programme for Advice UK working strategically to identify, develop and manage relationships with a broad range of stakeholders, including policy influencers, funders, sector partners and other organisations
• Oversee the development of effective press and media campaigns, mobilising support and leveraging media opportunities to raise awareness and drive action on priority issues
• Oversee the development and effective delivery of the #AdviceSaves campaign (including Advice Week), ensuring impact is measured and lessons learned
• Oversee development of research and analysis to identify emerging trends, opportunities in support of our policy and campaign objectives, using this to provide evidence-based insights and identify specific policy solutions to inform advocacy efforts
• Lead the development of high-quality research and insight products, including research reports and commissioned surveys to support our influencing goals
• Oversee the delivery of Advice UK's funding strategy to open up funding opportunities for members and their advice services
• As the departmental budget holder, lead on all financial management for the department, including forecasting and measuring financial performance, setting and managing budgets, reducing waste, and taking action to ensure the department achieves its financial objectives
• Provide effective leadership to the Policy and Public Affairs department including line management of a team of four, ensuring their strong performance and supporting their learning and development
• Work with other members of the senior leadership team to develop and implement Advice UK's strategic plan in supporting of its overall strategic objectives and to establish and monitor key performance indicators (KPIs)

We'd love to see applications from candidates with the following skills and experience:

• Significant experience of delivering within a complex policy environment, ideally within an organisation of similar size and complexity including of developing and delivering impactful policy and public affairs strategies that have led to demonstrable change
• Experience or an understanding of the social welfare advice sector; the issues faced by advice providers and the communities they serve
• Experience of working with suppliers and partners to deliver campaigns, research and funding proposals including tendering, negotiating and contracting, and of working in coalitions and partnerships to achieve shared objectives
• Experience acting as a spokesperson for an organisation
• Experience of strategic leadership of teams and working with CEO, Board and as part of a senior leadership team
• Ability to apply knowledge to new challenges and situations, and to devise solutions
• Strong analytical thinking and decision-making skills, with ability to translate data and evidence into actionable insights to inform decision-making
• Ability to think strategically; working in timescales of between one to three years
• Ability to manage and motivate staff to deliver complex or challenging projects
• Commitment to social justice, equality, diversity and inclusion

If you're interested in hearing more about this opportunity, please send your CV to Alice at Charity People in the first instance. 

Charity People is a forward thinking, inclusive organisation that actively and deliberately promotes equity, diversity and inclusion. We know organisations thrive when inclusion is at the forefront. We evidence our commitment by matching charity needs with the skills and experience of candidates irrespective of background e.g. age, disability (including hidden disabilities), gender, gender identity or gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, or sexual orientation. We do this because we believe that greater diversity leads to greater results for the charities we work with.

Location: Stockport, with options for hybrid working
Department: Insight
Contract type: Permanent
Hours: 28-35
Salary: £35,494

Who we are

NUS Charity is an exciting membership organisation, developing and championing strong students’ unions. We connect our members and curate services to deliver advice, guidance and crisis support to students’ unions across the UK.

We do professional differently. We are a progressive charity representing students’ unions. The sector is inclusive, fun, dynamic and representative and we put students and students’ unions at the heart of everything we do. We are challenging but are committed to creating a supportive and flexible environment which pushes your personal development in your everyday activity.

What we do

Students’ unions can be transformational hubs for students, staff, and wider society. NUS Charity support our member’s development to enhance their capacity and harness opportunities to maximise their positive impact. We do this in many ways, from managing a purchasing consortium to drive great value for our members, to our development activity, supporting the best potential in students’ unions – we strive to make a difference to our members.

The Insight Consultant sits within NUS’ Communications team, working closely with colleagues across campaigns, policy and membership. The Communications team plays a critical role in shaping how NUS tells its story, influences decision-makers, and amplifies student voices. Insight is central to this work, ensuring our communications and campaigns are grounded in robust evidence and a deep understanding of students’ experiences.

What we need

We are looking for an Insight Consultant to lead the design and delivery of research that strengthens NUS’ communications, campaigns and public narrative. This role ensures that our messaging, media work and influencing activity are informed by credible, timely and inclusive insight from students and students’ unions.

You will play a vital role in planning and delivering national student surveys, managing qualitative and quantitative research projects, and translating findings into compelling insight that supports communications and campaigning activity. You will work closely with communications colleagues to ensure research outputs are accessible, engaging and usable across a range of channels.

This is a great opportunity for someone who enjoys working at the intersection of research and communications, and who is motivated by using evidence to shape narratives, challenge power and create change for students.

You should have experience of designing and managing research projects, including surveys and other data collection methods, and of presenting insight in ways that resonate with different audiences. Experience of working with communications, campaigns or public-facing teams is highly desirable.

This position offers a unique opportunity to combine research expertise with communications and campaigning impact, helping to shape NUS’ public narrative and strengthen the collective voice of students and students’ unions across the UK.

We want to be as flexible as possible in this role, so we’re open to 28 – 35 hours across 4 or 5 days per week and would consider less hours and/or a job share. You can either do this role from our Stockport office or hybrid based partly in Stockport and partly at home.

Committed to Inclusion

We’re committed to equality of opportunity for all. We welcome applications from individuals regardless of their race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, religion, age, gender, or disability. You can be yourself here whoever you are, be proud of the work you do and build a career in a place that knows different is good.

We recognise that candidates from racialised backgrounds are under-represented in our organisation, and that there are often additional barriers present for people from these groups when applying for roles in the charity sector and beyond. We are committed to taking positive action to expand the diversity of our staff team, and if you meet the minimum criteria for a role (at least 80% of the criteria in the person specification) and are from a racialised background, you'll be guaranteed a first stage interview. It is important to note that this scheme guarantees an interview for candidates who meet the minimum criteria and tell us that they'd like to be considered under the scheme. The selection decision at interview will be based on the most suitable candidate, regardless of any protected characteristic.

Why apply?

We aim to practice what we preach so we’re happy to offer a flexible person-centred working environment with a great benefits package including:

• Generous holiday entitlement (starting at 27 days per year rising with service to 30 days)
• Flexible working opportunities
• Valuable workplace pension
• Enhanced parental pay policies
• Employee assistance programme
• Paid volunteer days – three days per year for full time staff
• Health Cash Plan

Please apply via our online application form, we are unable to accept CVs. If you are unable to complete an application due to accessibility needs please contact us.

Closing date for applications: Tuesday 10th February 2026 (23:59)
If you’re successfully shortlisted, we’ll see you at an interview on Tuesday 24th February 2026

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